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climate action together Advancing Climate Action in Charlottesville-Albemarle-UVA

climateactiontogether.org

OVERVIEW

The City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia each began making new commitments for climate action in 2019, and their sustainability staff want to hear from you – our community – to help inform their ongoing program efforts.

Having adopted new climate goals and while developing climate action plans, we build upon our region’s history of commitments to sustainability and climate action and are collaborating on community outreach. Community engagement and public input are an important part of the collaborative process, and we hope that you will engage to help advance climate action in our region.

Because these are global issues that extend beyond jurisdictions and geographical boundaries, the City, County, and UVA will build on past years of commitments – particularly the Local Climate Action Planning Process (LCAPP), a multi-jurisdictional effort completed in 2011. Each organization is working in parallel on specific goals and collaboratively building upon each other’s work...

Regional Climate Action Planning: Where We Are Now

City of Charlottesville

The City of Charlottesville first committed to greenhouse gas reductions by joining the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2006. This commitment has been restated in the City Council Vision 2025: A Green City, Comprehensive Plans, and by joining the Global Compact of Mayors in 2017.

As part of the Global Compact of Mayors (now renamed as the Global Covenant of Mayors), Charlottesville has committed to a 3-phase process for climate action that addresses both mitigation and adaptation. This includes completing an updated inventory (Phase 1 - complete), setting a new reduction target (Phase 2 - complete), and creating a climate action plan (Phase 3 - planned for Spring/Summer 2020 and now rescheduled for Winter 2020/2021).

The completed GHG inventory for calendar year 2016 is available at charlottesville.gov/emissions, and City Council has adopted a GHG reduction goal of 45% by 2030 (as measured from the City's 2011 GHG inventory) and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Information about the City's progress in the Covenant of Mayors process is available at charlottesville.gov/climate as well as links to the associated City Council agenda materials.

Albemarle County

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution on October 16, 2019 to Establish a Community-wide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Target. The Board resolves to reduce 45% of the 2008 Baseline GHG emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.

On October 7, 2020, the Board of Supervisors adopted Climate Action Plan mapping strategies and actions to achieve emissions reductions.

University of Virginia

In December 2019 the UVA Board of Visitors approved a resolution for the University to be carbon neutral by 2030, fossil fuel free by 2050, and advanced new goals for nitrogen, water, waste, and food. In October 2020 UVA launched a comprehensive 2020-2030 Sustainability Plan. These goals align with UVA’s 2030 Great and Good Plan and build upon the successes of the Board of Visitors’ 2011 and 2013 sustainability resolutions, the first UVA 2016-2020 Sustainability Plan, and the work of thousands of engaged individuals over the past several years.

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Review Presentations & Resources

Read Up on the City's GHG Inventory and Goals

On July 1, 2019, the City of Charlottesville adopted a new greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal of 45% reduction by 2030 (as measured from 2011) and carbon neutrality by 2050. Next up: developing a Climate Action Plan to propose for adoption (beginning Winter 2020).

Opportunities for public involvement will be coming up. In the meantime, learn more about the public input the City received that informed this goal, where our emissions come from as a community, and some of the things you can expect the Climate Action Plan to include on the City's Climate Protection Program webpage.

Upcoming TimelineS and opportunities

City of Charlottesville

  • Winter 2020 - Spring 2021: Climate Action Planning
  • Spring/Summer 2021: Climate Hazard and Adaptation Planning

Albemarle County

  • 2021: Climate Action Planning Phase 2 Implementation

University of Virginia

  • 2020-2021: Developing UVA’s Climate Action 2030 Plan

LEARN MORE

1. How Does Climate Change Affect Us (& What Can I Do)?

Below is a small selection of short videos that provide some basic information about climate change and climate action.

(Produced by KTTZ Texas Tech Public Media and distributed by PBS Digital Studios, any opinions expressed in the videos above are those of the presenter.)

3. What Impacts Can Climate Change Have in Virginia?

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Photo Credits:

Eze Amos, UVA Office for Sustainability, UVA Communications, UVA Parking & Transportation, City of Charlottesville Communications, City of Charlottesville Environmental Sustainability

Created By
Narissa Turner
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